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Leaders at MSU and MU are talking about expanding the partnership in several ways, such as streamlining the process to allow top MSU graduates to enroll in MU's four-year medical school.

"They seem open to this idea of having a certain number of seats set aside for Missouri State grads with the idea that those students start here, go to MU for the first two years of medical school and come back here for years three and four," said MSU President Clif Smart.

"That would increase the likelihood that those people would stay in Springfield."

Mun Choi, president of the University of Missouri system, said many of the students who are part of the Springfield Clinical Campus hail from rural parts of Missouri and have "degrees at Missouri State, at the undergraduate level."

"If there are ways that we can make slots available for medical school students who enroll at Missouri State, as part of an articulation agreement, I can see that as a strong possibility," he said.

Choi said MU is also open to collaborating on curriculum.

"There are possibilities for us to offer classes together, perhaps in physiology, neurology or other specializations that students want to pursue in their medical degree," he said.

Mun Choi, president of the University of Missouri system(Photo: File photo)

State funding for the program continues to be a concern, but interest in collaboration has remained strong.

"We are open to those ideas and very excited about collaboration with Missouri State," Choi said.

Smart said it would help MSU attract more students interested in medical careers.

"It helps with recruiting," he said. "It also gives us an additional reason to be supportive of that program."